title: Medical complications of psychiatric treatment.
abstract: Psychiatric medications are frequently an essential component of care for critically ill patients. Their use may lead to medical complications, however, as a result of (1) direct toxicity from psychotropic medications, (2) drug-drug interactions, or (3) intoxication or withdrawal states. These complications may be a nuisance (eg, dry mouth and nausea) or serious and life-threatening (eg, neuroleptic malignant syndrome and cardiac arrhythmias). This article addresses the most important medical complications (organized by organ systems) of psychiatric treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. fsmith2@partners.org
authors.forename: Felicia A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Curtis W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wittmann
authors.forename: Theodore A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs